Korner in last shot at London

IPSWICH hockey player Amy Korner knows her Olympic prospects are on the line when she heads to Melbourne tomorrow.

The experienced striker is also aware it might be her last chance to win back an Australian Hockeyroos spot.

However, the 25-year-old enters the Hockeyroos' Olympic qualifier selection camp with nothing to lose.

"I want to make the Olympics but it's really crunch time now," said Korner, preparing for the week of matches in Melbourne.

"I've got no idea really what's going to happen. I'm just going to play and see how I go.

"I think I've got less pressure on myself these days.

"If it doesn't happen now, then it will probably be retirement time next year."

While she wants to extend her 45-match international career started in 2005, Korner has other goals if she misses out. They include completing the last year and a half of her teaching studies and buying a house next year.

"I've got plans if I do make stuff (national teams) or don't make stuff," the Flinders View-based sportswoman said.

"If it doesn't work out, I've got uni and I can finish that.

"I've got things to look forward to.

"I've got everything organised with uni and work and everything."

Korner is one of 36 athletes from around Australia invited to the camp that will determine which players make up the Hockeyroos' Oceania Cup Olympic qualifier squad. That will form the basis of Australia's push for the 2012 London Olympics.

Korner was axed from the Hockeyroos squad in February after receiving limited time at last year's World Cup in Argentina.

But after the Hockeyroos have produced a number of inconsistent performances in recent months, national coach Adam Commens is likely to reconsider more seasoned players like Korner.

After a solid performance for the Queensland Scorchers in this year's national league, Korner returned to Perth recently for a national camp. It was from that camp, she was chosen in the final 36 for next week.

Having recovered from a nasty left ankle injury in June and a recent quad tear, she's feeling fit and ready again.

"Everything is fine now," she said, having lost 8kg since last year's World Cup.

"It's hard to tell where I'm at (in team priorities) as Adam has come in and given a lot of new girls and a lot of younger girls a go.

"They (team officials) seem to be happy with how I'm going at the moment and I'm a lot fitter this year than I was last year."

In Melbourne, Korner will line up with the Gold team which is playing four matches against the Green side during the week-long camp.

The teams feature a mix of players from the Hockeyroos starting squad, development squad and junior squad.

The matches start on Monday.

Australia's three-Test Oceania Cup Olympic qualifiers against New Zealand will follow in Hobart from October 5-9.